30.03.12
Cotton wool culture
The National Trust’s new report highlights the importance of nature to children’s development intellectually and physically.
Modern day concerns with safety and an emphasis on technology rather than time spent outside mean thatUKchildren spend far more time indoors than previous generations, to their detriment.
Playing in nature can improve children’s capacity to learn, increase their problem solving skills and imagination and generally benefit their wellbeing.
Parents who are over-protective and keep their children locked indoors must be made aware of the dangers that this can present, and policy recommendations should enshrine the importance of nature with real change to current society practice.
With the advance of technology that improves our lives in so many ways, it can be easy to forget that we actively need green spaces and interaction with nature; for our happiness, cognitive intelligence and capability to adapt to different situations.
Image c. Kjetilr
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